Traumatic Birth Recovery

How I can help you

I am trained in delivering the 3 step Rewind technique to lift the symptoms of PTSD in relation to a traumatic birth experience. (You don't need to have been diagnosed with PTSD to be able to treat the symptoms).

The benefits of this techniques are that in the majority of cases, people report a significant reduction or complete elimination of PTSD symptoms in only 2 or 3 sessions. I can perform the 3 step process with you anytime following the initial event, it is just as effective a few months after as it is a few years or more.

There is no need for you to retell your story to me, you will be asked to remember it yourself but if you are uncomfortable sharing you don't have to.

What is birth trauma?

Some women experience certain events during the birth of their baby, and the days that follow, that are clearly traumatising (such as an emergency delivery, fear for their own, or their baby's safety, baby requiring a stay in SCBU or NICU). Others may experience several other factors which lead them to feel traumatised following the birth.

Some of these factors are:

Impersonal treatment

Hostile attitudes from those around them

Lack of information or explanation

Poor postnatal care

Feelings of loss of control

Loss of dignity, lack of privacy

Feelings of not being heard or listened to

Lengthy labour

High levels of medical intervention

Post Natal Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD is the term given to a set of normal reactions to a traumatic or bad experience and can therefore be a consequence of a traumatic birth. It is important to understand that PTSD is a psychological injury not a mental illness - it is a temporary change to your brain which can be treated. However, if left untreated it can lead to mental illness. There is no stigma attached to acknowledging that you are suffering from symptoms of PTSD and there is a simple and effective way to treat it so you are able to move on in a positive way.

Symptoms of Post Natal PTSD can include:

Anxiety

Panic attacks

Disconnection from baby

Lonliness

Low mood

Sadness

Numbness

Depression

Difficulty sleeping

Nightmares

Flashbacks (reoccurring thoughts about the birth)

Being unable to remember the birth, or parts of the birth

Anger

Resentment

Irritability

Difficulty concentrating

Avoidance of anything related to the birth (e.g. other babies, hospital, pregnant women)

PTSD or PND?

The symptoms of PTSD often overlap with the symptoms of PND (Post Natal Depression), however the 2 are different and need to be treated differently. Sometimes PND is bought on following PTSD so it is important to treat the symptoms of PTSD and then deal with the PND.

How my sessions work

After an initial free phone consultation, we will hold our first session either in the comfort of your own home or at a Cardiff venue. This session is a chance for you to tell me how the symptoms have been affecting you, and if you wish, to tell me about the birth. If at any point you feel uncomfortable we will have a break, and you only have to tell me your story if you want to. I will listen without judgement or commentary, this will be a safe place to talk about your feelings and experiences. Then I will ask you to scale your emotions, how much distress they are causing you on a daily basis. You will then work out how you would like to feel after the treatment. We will end the session with a lovely relaxation and you will come away feeling lighter and calmer.

Our second session will start by revisiting the emotional scale and how you would like to feel afterwards. I will explain the steps of the treatment and ensure you are happy to continue.

The 3 steps of the rewind technique are:

Deep relaxation

Recalling the event in a specific way whilst feeling safe and secure

Imagining yourself in the future responding in a different way, coping with the emotions and the memories